Apstjärnan

(Mum is a gorilla, so what?)Book not yet available in English

Summary:

Joanna lives in an orphanage. One day, out of the blue, someone comes to adopt her. She discovers that her new mum is a gorilla who drives a beaten-up old car. After her initial fears, Joanna learns to live with her in an old abandoned factory, where they sell scrap metal for a fortune. Joanna grows accustomed to her new mother’s rough and ready manners, until one day their happiness is threatened by the arrival of Tord. [Source: Electre]

Comment:

Nine-year-old Joanna lives at the strict Mimosas orphanage, which has rules for everything, especially hygiene. Like all the other children, she dreams of being adopted by a pretty mummy and a kindly daddy. But her new mummy turns out to be a gorilla who drives up in a beaten-up old car! A strange, huge, hairy, grubby gorilla who lives in an abandoned factory and earns a living dealing in scrap. The two of them get off to an unpromising start, but gradually learn to love each other. The reader smiles at seeing them getting to know each other, and worries when sneaky Tord, who wants to get his hands on the gorilla’s land, threatens their new-found happiness. A funny little novel that goes straight to the heart. [Emmanuelle Kabala, La Revue des livres pour enfants]

Edited by:
University Library "Livres au Trésor" and the Research Centre "Pléiade" of the University of Paris 13 (France)